Frogs are being wiped out as deadly virus sweeps colonies across Britain

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The frog population is being ravaged by the ranavirusAndrew Milligan/PA

Times Staff

Last updated at 12:01AM, October 8 2010

A virus is killing populations of the Common Frog in ponds across Britain,
scientists have warned.

Ranavirus, a disease which is thought to be relatively new to this country,
caused an average 81 per cent decrease in adult frogs over a 12-year period,
researchers at the Zoological
Society of London (ZSL) found.

The study, using data collected from the public by the frog mortality project
and the charity Froglife,
showed long term declines in numbers as well as the sudden mass die-offs of
frogs that the disease is known to cause.